The Lebanese Basketball League, officially Decathlon Lebanese Basketball League for sponsorship reasons, is recognized as the top-tier professional men's basketball league in Lebanon. It is organized annually as a national championship with playoffs and a national cup by the Lebanese Basketball Federation (FLB).
Currently, the league consists of 12 teams, of which six are located in Beirut. The most successful club in the history of the league is Al Riyadi Club Beirut.
History The initial Lebanese basketball league was formed in as early as the 1950s; however, it was stopped during the Lebanese Civil War. In 1992, the league was reformed into its current fully professional format.
In 1998, Sporting Club (Al Riyadi) finished third in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, that same year Beirut hosted the Arab Club Championship where Sagesse won, it was the first ever Arab basketball trophy for Lebanon.
In 1999, Beirut hosted the Arab Club Championship, Hekmeh were crowned champions again, in addition to being the first Lebanese and first Arab team to win the Asian cup.
The 1999 season was inaugurated by a huge event that included an exhibition game between Lebanese All-stars (represented by the top four teams Sagesse, Riyadi, Tadamon, and Rosaire) and the Harlem Globetrotters.
Overview
The league is the first division in Lebanese basketball. The team that finishes last each season is relegated to the Second Division, while the Second Division's top four teams compete in a play-off system. The team that wins is promoted for the next season.
Competition There are 12 teams in the league. They play a round-robin format; each team plays all other teams once home and once away. At the end of the regular season, the top eight teams enter the playoffs and play a best of 5 series in the quarterfinals. The winners of the quarterfinals advance to the best of 5 series in the semifinals. The two teams that advance play a best of seven series in the final, and the winner is the league champion.
Teams
The following 12 teams play in the 2025–26 season. Team City Arena Capacity Al Riyadi Beirut Saeb Salam Arena Antranik Antelias AGBU Demirdjian Center Antonine Baabda Antonine Arena Beirut Club Beirut Chiyah Stadium Champville Maristes Dik El Mehdi Champville Club Center Club Central Jounieh Jounieh Club Central Club Jeunesse Sportif Batroun Batroun Batroun Sports Club Homenetmen Beirut Mezher Adom & Sella Tenjukian stadium Hoops Club Beirut Rockland Arena NSA Jounieh Fouad Chehab Stadium Sagesse Ghazir Antoine Choueiri Stadium Tadamon Hrajel Zouk Mikael Kahraba Zouk Club Stadium
Since 1993, 40 teams participated in the League. The list consists of:
1-Al Riyadi Club Beirut (since 1993)
2- Homenetmen Beirut (1993-1996, 1997/98-2000/01, 2004/05, since 2013/14)
3- Anibal Zahle (1993, 1995, 1996/97-2012/13, 2019/20-2021/22)
4- Tadamon Zouk (1993-2001/02, 2013/14-2017/18)
5- Kahraba Zouk (1993-2002/03, 2008/09-2009/10)
6- Club Jeunesse Meziara (1993-1996, 1997/98-2000/01)
7- Club Central Jounieh (1993-1996, 2001/02-2002/03, since 2024/25)
8- Mont La Salle Club (1993-1997/98)
9- Taadod Club Beirut (1993-1996/97)
10-ENB Beyrouth (1993-1995, 1996/97)
11-Hawch Sour (1993, 1999/2000)
12-Club Carmelite (1993)
13-Sagesse BC (since 1994)
14-Antranik Youth Association (1994-2012/13, since 2021/22)
15-Rosaire Club Mansouriyeh (1994-1999/2000)
16-Beit Mery Club (1994, 1996/97-1998/99)
17-Animation Club Zouk (1994-1995, 1996/97)
18-Ghazir Club (1995, 1996/97, 2002/03)
19-Abnaa Khalij Jounieh (1995-1996)
20-Jamhour Blue Stars (1996/97, 2000/01-2008/09)
21-Shabeb Ghobeiry (1996/97-1997/98)
22-CS Maristes (since 1998/99)
23-Rabta Club Chekka (1998/99)
24-Sadaka SC (1999/2000-2002/03)
25-Café Najjar (2003/04)
26-Feytroun Club (2004/05-2005/06, 2007/08-2008/09)
27-Mouttahed Club (2005/06-2020/21)
28-Club Sportif Antonin (2006/07, 2017/18, since 2023/24)
29-Tebnin SC/Dynamo Beirut (2008/09, 2021/22-2022/23)
30-Hoops Club (2009/10-2016/17, since 2018/19)
31-Byblos Club (2010/11-2022/23)
32-Chabibet Haouch el Oumara (2010/11-2011/12)
33-Bejjeh Club (2011/12-2013/14)
34-Club Amchit (2012/13-2013/14)
35-Club Louaize/Leaders Club (2015/16-2017/18, 2022/23)
36-Mayrouba SC (2016/17, 2023/24-2024/25)
37-Beirut Club (since 2017/18)
38-Club Atlas Ferzol (2018/19-2022/23)
39-NSA Club (since 2022/23)
40-Tadamon Hrajel (since 2024/25)
41-Club Jeunesse Sportif Batroun (2025-2026)
Champions Wins by year FLB League (standings since 1993) SeasonChampionRunner-up1992–1993 Al Riyadi Kahraba Zouk1993–1994 Sagesse Kahraba Zouk1994–1995 Al Riyadi (2) Kahraba Zouk1995–1996 1996–1997 Al Riyadi (3) Tadamon Zouk1997–1998 Sagesse (2) Tadamon Zouk1998–1999 Sagesse (3) Tadamon Zouk1999–2000 Sagesse (4) Antranik Beirut2000–2001 Sagesse (5) Al Riyadi2001–2002 Sagesse (6) Champville2002–2003 Sagesse (7) Al Riyadi2003–2004 Sagesse (8) Champville2004–2005 Al Riyadi (4) Sagesse2005–2006 Al Riyadi (5) Sagesse2006–2007 Al Riyadi (6) Blue Stars2007–2008 Al Riyadi (7) Mouttahed2008–2009 Al Riyadi (8) Mouttahed2009–2010 Al Riyadi (9) Champville2010–2011Al Riyadi (10) Champville2011–2012Champville Anibal2012–20132013–2014Al Riyadi (11) Sagesse2014–2015Al Riyadi (12) Byblos Club2015–2016Al Riyadi (13) Sagesse2016–2017Al Riyadi (14) Homenetmen2017–2018Homenetmen Al Riyadi2018–2019Al Riyadi (15) Beirut Club2019–20202020–2021Al Riyadi (16)Champville2021–2022Beirut ClubAl Riyadi 2022–2023Al Riyadi (17)Dynamo2023–2024Al Riyadi (18)Sagesse2024–2025Al Riyadi (19)Sagesse2025–2026Al Riyadi (20)Sagesse
Wins by team Club Titles Runners-up Seasons won Seasons runner-upAl Riyadi3941950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–262000–01, 2002–03, 2017–18, 2021–22Sagesse871993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–042004–05, 2005–06, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26Champville152011–122001–02, 2003–04, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2020–21Homenetmen112017–182016–17Beirut112021–222018–19Aamal Bikfaya101991–92Kahraba Zouk031992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95Tadamon Zouk031996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99Mouttahed022007–08, 2008–09Antranik Beirut011999–2000Blue Stars012006–07Anibal012011–12Byblos012014–15Dynamo012022–23
Rivalries Beirut derby
Al Riyadi vs Sagesse Club
Other rivalries Al Riyadi vs Champville Homenetmen Beirut vs Al Riyadi Champville vs Sagesse Club Tadamon Zouk vs Sagesse Club Antranik vs Homenetmen Beirut Tadamon Zouk vs Kahraba Zouk
Notable players
Al Hassan Dandache Bassel Bawji Rony Fahed Hayk Gyokchyan Nadim Souaid Roy Samaha Ali Haidar Elie Stephan Elie Rustom Elie Mechantaf Ali Mezher Wael Arakji Mohammad Ibrahim Ahmad Ibrahim Amir Saoud Fadi El Khatib Joe Vogel Ali Mahmoud Brian Beshara Jean Abdelnour Sabah Khoury Omar El Turk Anthony Khoury Billy Pharis Ghaleb Rida Ali Kanaan Billy Pharis Jason Azzi Daniel Faris Charbel Kassis Matt Freije / Ekene Ibekwe Duop Reath Jean-Paul Afif Samaki Walker Cliff Alexander Kerwin Roach Hassan Whiteside Shabazz Muhammad Rashad McCants Jeremy Pargo Norvel Pelle Isaiah Austin Danny Pippen JJ Hickson Mike Taylor (basketball player) Troy Williams Diamond Stone Zach Lofton Kevin Murphy (basketball) Ace Custis DeWayne Jackson Patrick Rembert Dion Dixon Corey Williams Brian Cook Tony Madison Alvin Sims C.J. Giles Darryl Watkins Lee Nailon Herbert Hill Jumaine Jones Loren Woods Priest Lauderdale Dewarick Spencer Flip Murray Desmond Penigar Rasheim Wright Marcus Haislip Harold Jamison Andre Emmett Nate Johnson Marc Salyers Earl Barron Scotty Thurman Rick Hughes DeShawn Sims Aaron Harper LeRoy Hurd Tre Kelley Sam Hoskin Quincy Douby Ronnie Fields Willie Burton Marlon Parmer Booker Woodfox Reyshawn Terry DerMarr Johnson Rashad Anderson Jerald Honeycutt Terrell Stoglin Dickey Simpkins Cedric Henderson Jeremiah Massey Ruben Patterson Sherell Ford Jamal Robinson Nate Robinson Jonathan Gibson Cleanthony Early Nick Rakocevic Dar Tucker Ater Majok Aleksandar Radojević Alpha Bangura Ismail Ahmad Salah Mejri Ali Traore Ndudi Ebi Nikoloz Tskitishvili Jeleel Akindele Dalibor Bagarić Asghar Kardoust Hamed Haddadi Ratko Varda Vladan Vukosavljević Sani Sakakini Michael Madanly Marcus Banks Walter Hodge Makrem Ben Romdhane Sam Young (basketball) Rony Seikaly Justin Brownlee Thon Maker
Notable coaches
Ghassan Sarkis Ahmad Farran Slobodan Subotić Ilias Zouros Nenad Vucinic Veselin Matic Dragan Raca Tab Baldwin
References
External links Brief Breakdown Lebanese Basketball Federation (FLB) website Lebanese Basketball League Facebook Lebanese Basketball League Twitter Lebanese Basketball League Twitter